Domestic Violence Lawyers in Texas

Family Violence: Definitions & Interventions

As defined by the Texas Family Code, domestic violence is either a threat
or act by a family member or someone within a household against another
member that either results in physical harm/injury, is intended to result
in physical harm/injury, or gives the victim reason to believe he or she
is in danger of physical harm. Domestic violence can also be called “family
violence,” and for the purposes of this page, they meant the same thing.

The legal definition of domestic violence includes acts between people
who are related by blood or marriage, are or were spouses, are parents
of the same child, are foster parents or children, are roommates, or are
or were dating. You do not have to have been living together for the abuse
to be considered domestic violence.

Need help seeking legal protection and safety?
Contact us online today to request a consultation with a compassionate domestic violence lawyer.

Overcoming Barriers to Reporting Domestic Violence

It can be difficult to report an abuser if you and/or your children are
victims of domestic violence.
You may face some of the common barriers of separating oneself from a domestic
violence abuser:

Your batterer is rich and/or famous

Your batterer may threaten to hurt of kill you and your family if you report him

You may feel issues of violence in your home should be kept private

You might want to honor your wedding vows

Your batterer may continuously apologize and say it won’t happen again

You might not have the money to support yourself and/or your children on your own

You may have had a prior negative experience with the court system

Abusers often isolate their victims from friends and family, leaving the
victim alone to advocate for him or herself. And even if other people
are aware of the violence in the home, they face their own barriers to
reporting it.

Genovese Syndrome / "The Bystander Effect"

Kitty Genovese, a young woman living in New York in the 1960’s, was
coming home late from work one night when a man attacked and stabbed her
near her apartment building. Purportedly, over thirty bystanders heard
or saw the event, and yet no one called the police until it was too late.

The Bystander Effect, or Genovese Syndrome, occurs when bystanders witnessing
a crime do not step in to help because they assume someone else (another
bystander) will do so. For this reason, it is imperative to recognize
that if you are in danger, you must do your best to advocate for your
own safety (and if you are unable to do so, appoint a specific person
you trust to be your advocate and help you).

Children & Family Violence

Being the victim or witness of domestic violence can have long-term effects
on your children psychologically and behaviorally. Children who witness
domestic violence have difficulty maintaining healthy relationships with
people in the future. Growing up in an abusive home teaches them that
violence is the answer to relieving stress, stopping an argument, or getting
them what they want.

Studies show that trauma in childhood can lead to a smaller brain size
and disrupt normal amygdala functions. The amygdala is the part of the
brain responsible for “fight or flight” responses; for people
who grow up in an abusive home, they may either be constantly stimulated
into a “fight or flight” state, or become expressionless and
low-functioning (also known as “dissociative behavior”). These
children also commonly show behavioral problems later on in life, such
as acting out in school or getting involved in crime. Finally, according
to the National Domestic Violence hotline, “men who witness domestic
violence as children are twice as likely to become abusers themselves.”

Getting out of a domestic violence situation can feel daunting, but it
can be done and your life and children’s lives will be all the better
for it. You do have options, such as filing for a protective order, to
allow the law to keep you safe from further harm.

Summary

While we would all like to believe that people are always good to one another,
unfortunately that is sometimes not the case. For those who are victims
of domestic violence or family violence, they know all too well the psychological
trauma that can affect how they react to save themselves or their children.
Texas has laws in place to protect you from further harm, but the first
step is acknowledging the problem and knowing your options for moving forward.

Contact the Texas domestic violence lawyers at Walters Gilbreath, PLLC for help.
We can be reached by calling (844) 451-1220.

Brain Walters and Jake Gilbreath both worked on my divorce case which resulted in a very favorable outcome. I recommend Brian and Jake since they are both very experienced and knowledgeable. Questions asked were almost always answered the same day. I highly recommend this law firm.

- Michael V.

Brian and Jake listened carefully to my situation. They prepared all appropriate court documents and filed them the next day. Their staff was pleasant to deal with and very organized. Although I was under a great deal of stress from my spouse's emotional abuse, their prompt and appropriate legal ...

- Cindy

Great law firm. Very professional. They fought for me and my son. I am pleased with my case. I will highly recommend this law firm. Thank you.

- Ogechi

Mr. Walters has been a lifesaver for me. My ex-wife kidnapped my children and the police would not help me recover them using my custody order. I contacted Brian and we were in front of a judge the next day and my children were returned within hours after that. The proceeding family court case that ...

- William I.

Jim is an exceptional attorney with his client's upmost interest at heart. From the beginning, through the time he brought my case to closure, Jim displayed such care and attention to detail. He will shephard you through a very difficult and emotional process with nothing but grace, compassion and ...

- Shannon

Jake Gilbreath has been extremely helpful and impactful in my recent divorce proceedings. Initially my divorce was amicable, but degraded quickly with legal wrangling on the part of my wife's counsel. Immediately after Jake was engaged, things snapped back to a realistic agenda and a prompt ...

Dallas

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

x

⚠

Your browser is out of date. To get the full experience of this website,
please update to most recent version.